The Lay of the Phantom Paladin. — Michael Brown

Look what the cat drug in and the dog won't touch! What would you do if your cat drug in a Confederate belt buckle? Oh, I suppose you think CSA stands for the Casting Society of America. OK, then how do you explain the weapons cache that goes along with the belt buckle. Do you suppose the weapons props from a Viet. Nam movie shoot? Let me clue you in, no Viet. Cong ever used a seven shot Spencer carbine. What about the document signed by John Singleton Mosby? Explain that!This might make sense, if you are one of the Morans of Loudoun County, Virginia. Why? You live in the Mosby Heritage Area or Mosby's Confederacy. Let's say you bring in other descendants of the Army of Northern Virginia and start looking for other sneering nests and other Civil War artifacts. What do you do when you and your friends discover an unknown historical narrative. Then you find out the narrative is about a Yankee with a Virginia accent! Would your family and friends disown you? Who would your friends or family matrons see as a villain. The Rebs, Yankees or you?Would you look into those places, where your family keeps its heir looms? Would you find manumission, discharge or parole papers from a distant ancestor? Do you have a wanted poster on a distant ancestor? You realize Ancestry DNA cannot reveal them. You might get lucky and get a taste of Civil War Era whiskey or rum.How do you protect any archeological find?Warning: This is an American tall tale. For this story you will need to set aside or suspend your impressions, feelings or convictions about the American Civil War. So, like a Jessie Scout, saddle up and ride to the thunder of the guns.